SpaceX reschedules Starship 2nd test flight launch for Nov 18; All you need to know about the 90-minute global expedition

A live webcast of the second flight test will start about 35 minutes before launch, on X @SpaceX (Image courtesy: @Spacex/X)

Elon Musk's SpaceX has postponed the second test flight of Starship, the most powerful rocket ever built, designed to send astronauts to the Moon, Mars and beyond, to November 18.

The delay is due to a hardware change - the replacement of a grid fin actuator, leading to the cancellation of the planned liftoff from SpaceX's Starbase facility in Boca Chica, Texas, on November 17.

SpaceX founder Musk tweeted, "We need to replace a grid fin actuator, so launch is postponed to Saturday"

We need to replace a grid fin actuator, so launch is postponed to Saturday

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) November 16, 2023

The new twenty-minute launch window opens at 7:00 am CT on November 18, SpaceX said on its website.

Learning from Starship's maiden flight

The first launch of Starship on April 20 ended in an explosion minutes after lifting off from the launch pad in south Texas.

The Federal Aviation Administration issued its license on November 15, noting that SpaceX has met safety, environmental and other requirements to launch again.

Building upon the lessons learned from Starship's first flight, SpaceX said it has incorporated several upgrades for enhanced success in future endeavours. "The second flight test will debut a hot-stage separation system and a new electronic Thrust Vector Control (TVC) system for Super Heavy Raptor engines, in addition to reinforcements to the pad foundation and a water-cooled steel flame deflector, among many other enhancements." SpaceX wrote on its website.

SpaceX emphasized recursive improvement as they work towards building a fully reusable transportation system capable of facilitating crew and cargo transport to Earth orbit, the Moon, Mars, and beyond.

What to expect during the second Starship test flight

According to the mission description provided by SpaceX, as the countdown hits the T-2 hour mark, the Flight Director gives the go-ahead after conducting a poll, signalling the start of propellant loading. At T-1 hour and 37 minutes, the booster's liquid oxygen (LOX) and liquid methane fuel loading begin, matched by the ship's fuel load. At T-1 hour and 13 minutes, the ship's LOX load kicks in. At T-19 minutes and 40 seconds, the Raptor engines chill on both the booster and ship. As the clock hits T-10 seconds, the flame deflector roars, setting the stage. And, the climax begins at T-3 seconds with the initiation of the Raptor ignition sequence.

From start to finish: An epic 90-minute journey

The Starship set for liftoff faces its toughest moment at 52 seconds when the rocket will reach its moment of peak mechanical stress, known as Max Q. Subsequently, booster engines are planned to cut off (MECO) at 2 minutes and 39 seconds. Shortly after, the Starship will fire up its Raptor engines and separate from the booster in a hot-staging moment at 2 minutes and 41 seconds.

Around 6 minutes in, the booster will hit transonic speeds. Then, the booster will go transonic at 6 minutes and 18 seconds. At 8 minutes and 33 seconds, the Starship's engines will cut off. The Starship will enter into the atmosphere at 1 hour, 17 minutes, and 21 seconds, and experience its transonic phase at 1 hour, 28 minutes, and 43 seconds. Finally, a landing moment at 1 hour and 30 minutes.

These times are all approximate and might change during the actual test.

Starship overview: A reusable space travel system

Starship, along with a powerful rocket called Super Heavy, makes a reusable system to take people and things to space, the Moon, Mars, and beyond. It's super strong and can carry a lot, making it the most powerful rocket ever built.

Starship's amazing abilities: Traveling beyond earth

Starship can take up to 100 people on long space trips. It's not just for space travel; it helps deliver satellites, build Moon bases, and even transport things quickly on Earth.

Payload delivery: Carrying big stuff

Starship can carry heavy things into space at a lower cost than other rockets. It can deliver satellites, telescopes, and cargo to different places in space.

Moon missions: Going back after 50 years

Starship is built to take a lot of stuff to the Moon. It's helping NASA send astronauts back to the Moon's surface for the first time in 50 years under the Artemis missions.

Interplanetary transportation

Starship, being reusable, can transport up to 100 people to Mars and other faraway places.

Also Read: Artemis II: NASA expedites development of advanced upper-stage rocket to send humans to Moon

Earth-to-Earth transportation: Fast travel around the world

Starship and Super Heavy could make international trips in under 30 minutes because they're so fast and avoid problems like air friction and bad weather.

Also Read: NASA's SpaceX 29th CRS mission carries science to Space Station on Nov 9

Fueling up in space

Starship uses other tanker ships to fill up with fuel while already in space. This allows it to carry up to 100 tonnes to Mars. If the tanker ship can be used many times, it makes the whole journey cheaper.